News Releases

The Board expects the total outflow to be 2,040 m3/s (72 tcfs) in March, which is as prescribed by Lake Superior Regulation Plan 2012. The gate setting of the control structure will be maintained at the typical winter setting equivalent to one-half gate open in March.

The Board expects the total outflow to be 2,050 m3/s (72 tcfs) in February, which is as prescribed by Lake Superior Regulation Plan 2012. The gate setting of the control structure will be maintained at the typical winter setting equivalent to one-half gate open in February.

Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron water levels continue to decline, but are still well above average and the risk of high-water impacts remains. Lake Superior outflows continue to be set in consideration of high levels upstream and downstream. Last month, Lake Superior declined 3 cm (1.2 in)...

The Board expects the total outflow to be 2,420 m3/s (85.5 tcfs) in November, which is as prescribed by Lake Superior Regulation Plan 2012. The gate setting of the control structure will be gradually lowered to the typical winter setting equivalent to one-half gate open on Friday, 6 November and...

The lakes are expected to continue their seasonal declines through the fall. However, water levels are expected to remain near seasonal highs and there will continue to be a significantly increased risk of shoreline erosion, lakeshore flooding and coastal damages.

Anglers and other users of the St. Marys Rapids are advised that Gate #1, which is the northernmost gate of the compensating works structure, located closest to the Canadian shoreline at the head of the rapids, will be temporarily closed tomorrow, 9 September, to facilitate underwater safety...

Lake Superior generally remained stable over the course of the month, which is typical for this time of year. Lake Michigan-Huron declined 4 cm (1.6 in) over the course of the month, which is the average water level decline in August. At the beginning of September, Lake Superior is 6 cm (2.4 in)...

A public Great Lakes water levels webinar hosted by the International Joint Commission's Lake Superior Board of Control, Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board and Niagara Board of Control was held July 17. This webinar provided an overview of why the Great Lakes were at their current levels and how...

Basin conditions were generally wetter than average in July. As a result, water levels rose on Lake Superior and remained stable on Lake Michigan-Huron. Lake Superior rose 7 cm over the course of the month, while on average the water level rises 5 cm in July. At the beginning of August, Lake...

Basin conditions were generally near average or drier than average in June, around both Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron. As a result, water levels did not rise as much as they typically do in June. Nonetheless, water levels are expected to remain high over at least the next few months and...

While conditions around Lake Superior were drier than average in May, conditions were again wetter than average on Lake Michigan-Huron, driven by a couple of significant rainfall events in the middle and at the end of the month. This has resulted in additional record-high water levels, which pose a...

Conditions across the Great Lakes were generally drier this past month and the water levels of both Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron rose less than they typically do in April. Nonetheless, an exceptional volume of water remains in the system. Water levels are expected to remain high over at...

Wet conditions returned to the Great Lakes this past month and the water levels of both Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron rose slightly more than they typically do in March. An exceptional volume of water remains in the system and all of the Great Lakes remain near or above record-high water...

Conditions across the Great Lakes were drier this past month and the water levels of both Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron declined more than they typically do in February. Nonetheless, an exceptional volume of water remains in the system and all of the Great Lakes remain near or above record...

Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron water levels are above record-highs for this time of year as wet conditions persisted across the upper Great Lakes basin in January. With all of the Great Lakes near or above record-highs for this time of year, there is an exceptional volume of water in the...

Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron remain near record-highs for this time of year, and although they are expected to continue their seasonal declines in January, levels are expected to remain high over the next several months and may again exceed record-highs if wet conditions continue in 2020.

Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron remain near record-highs for this time of year, but are expected to continue their seasonal declines in December. As a result, there will continue to be a significantly increased risk of shoreline erosion, lakeshore flooding and coastal damages over the next...

The Board expects the total outflow from Lake Superior to be 2,820 m3/s in November, which is as prescribed by Lake Superior Regulation Plan 2012. The gate setting will be lowered in stages beginning in late November to allow for a gradual reduction in St. Marys Rapids flows and water levels prior...

An on-line questionnaire has been developed that allows impacted shoreline property owners to report directly on their experiences in 2019 (https://ijc.org/en/glam/watershed/questionnaire/high-water-levels-2019).

The International Lake Superior Board of Control (Board) expects the total outflow from Lake Superior to be 2,840 m3/s in September, which is as prescribed by Lake Superior Regulation Plan 2012. The gate setting at the Compensating Works will be maintained at the equivalent of nine gates fully open.

Water levels across the Great Lakes system remain near or above record-highs for this time of year. Lake Superior is expected to remain relatively stable in August and Lake Michigan-Huron is expected to begin its seasonal decline.

Wet conditions continued across the Lake Michigan-Huron basin in June and resulted in water levels rising to record highs by the end of the month. Conditions were relatively drier in the Lake Superior basin, but Lake Superior remains above record high water levels for this time of year.

Water levels of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron remain well above average, and Lake Superior has the potential to reach or exceed record highs in May should wet conditions continue.

The above-average levels coupled with strong winds and waves continue to result in shoreline erosion and coastal damages across the upper Great Lakes system.

Very wet conditions continued across the upper Great Lakes basin in February, and water levels of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron remain well above average.

Generally wet conditions persisted across the upper Great Lakes basin in January, and water levels of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron remain well above average.

December, like October and November, saw wet conditions across the upper Great Lakes basin, and water levels of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron remain well above average.

The International Lake Superior Board of Control, under authority granted to it by the International Joint Commission (IJC), advises that the gate setting of the control structure at the head of the St. Marys Rapids will be reduced prior to winter, beginning next week. The gate setting will be...